Brooder plate recommendations?

[AinaWGSD]

I got a $100 Amazon gift card for Christmas and I'm considering using it on a brooder plate. Any recommendations on brands?

What size is recommended for how many chicks? I'm not certain what size hatch we'll start with. I have a 56 egg incubator, we filled it for last year's Easter hatchalong and ended up with 32 chicks. So I'm guessing that my hatches this year should probably be 15-35ish chicks.

I'm tentatively planning the first hatch for February, when we'll still have freezing temps. We usually brood in the basement for the first 1-3 weeks then move them out to the big brooder in the unheated garage.

 

[Sefirothe]

I have two different sizes of this one. I'm very very happy with it, the plate had no issues keeping up even tho I brooded 13 chicks hatched Oct 14th out on the floor of my uninsulated coop. This latest batch was the 4th to grow up under this particular one which is the 12"x12" size.

I recently got the 16"x16" sized one in preparation for much larger batches of quail. I will say it is cheaper if you buy direct thru the Premier1 site, but then shipping isnt free. Never mind, just checked prices plus shipping and Amazon is currently cheaper if you have prime for free shipping.

And the cover that comes with it keeps them off of the top of it nicely.

 

[SourRoses]

What a perfect way to use a gift card!

I love our current brooder plate, but they don't make it anymore. I wanted another as soon as I got it, but they must not have hit their sales goal or something.
What's good about it, features that I would look for in another model...
- Temp is adjustable, Low / Med / High. Helpful for younger chicks and cooler or warmer weather. The idea with brooder plates that they can just run in and out is great for the day time, but at night when it's dark and they huddle together it can be hard for some chicks to move away from the warmth.
- The heat doesn't cycle on and off. Our first brooder plate had a thermostat which did that and the chicks hated it. They were unsettled during the 2-3 mins of downtime. When I got this one I immediately noticed the difference.
- It has a double guard so I can press my fingers to the underside without hurting myself, so I know the chicks are safe too.
- (least important) It's all black, not orange, yellow, or red... Which are really bright colors not suitable for furniture IMO. Where's the blue or purple? But black is good as it fades into the background.

What I don't like...
- It has scissor legs. Which are easy to adjust, but possibly dangerous if it were to fall. So I jerry-rigged some clips to the underside of the legs that keep it from falling too far. So far it's been fine though.
- The anti-roost cover was not an effective design, so I often have to clean the top. Naughty chickies!

 

[kattabelly]

It might not be a problem, but I'd be slightly worried that having 30+ chicks under a single heat plate could lead to them piling up and the ones in the centre (or towards the back, if it's against a wall) getting crushed or suffocated. Particularly with very small chicks that need the plate set very low down, and particularly if your basement is a bit chilly.

Like I say, might not be an issue at all but it's something I'd be aware of and keep an eye on.